AAPLE-Walk: A novel gait-mimicking exercise machine for cardiovascular fitness and rehabilitation - Market Assessment application

AAPLE-Walk：一种用于心血管健身和康复的新型步态模仿运动机 - 市场评估应用

• 批准号: 520620-2017
• 负责人: Borisoff, Jaimie
• 金额: $ 1.09万
• 依托单位: British Columbia Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Idea to Innovation
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=618772
• 关键词: AAPLE; Walk; novel; gait; mimicking

Our proposed invention is based on Active Arm Passive Leg Exercise (AAPLE) machines (i.e. machines where arm motion drives paralyzed leg motion), a form of exercise that improves cardiovascular (CV) health in people with spinal cord injury. Our prototype, the AAPLE-Walk, extends this concept to allow for arm driven walking motion while standing for people with complete lower limb paralysis. With AAPLE-Walk, a user is stand-supported on a modified elliptical-type exercise machine. The user's arm movements can be used to drive their legs in walking patterns at variable intensities appropriate for CV fitness. The ability of AAPLE-Walk to drive synchronized gait-like movements while weight bearing opens up the possibility of rehabilitation locomotor therapy similar to that provided by expensive gait trainers or exoskeletons. Our device can also be used with active leg movements when physically possible, and any combination of left/right arm/leg inputs, opening up the possibility of it benefitting people with a wide range of mobility limitations (e.g. stroke, neurological conditions, aging). We have recently had a person with a complete spinal cord injury demonstrate independent use of a fully-functioning AAPLE-Walk prototype. We believe that a device that can provide the combination of benefits of CV exercise, weight bearing, and gait training in an inexpensive package has significant market potential. But while we have made significant progress with our invention, additional engineering research is needed to further the usability, performance, and functionality of the device. Before moving forward with this work, a greater understanding of the overall market is needed. The knowledge gained through this market assessment will be used to confirm market size and provide confidence to invest further R & D resources as well as focus our development efforts to target specific market need and/or add device features that enable a wider population of users. We will also identify potential company partners and scope a go-to-market plan that considers the specific characteristics of launching an adapted exercise machine product.

我们提出的发明是基于主动手臂被动腿部锻炼(AAPLE)机器(即手臂运动驱动瘫痪腿运动的机器)，这是一种改善脊髓损伤患者心血管(CV)健康的运动形式。我们的原型AAPLE-Walk扩展了这一概念，允许手臂驱动的步行运动，同时为完全下肢瘫痪的人站立。使用AAPLE-Walk，用户可以站在改装后的椭圆型健身机上站立。用户的手臂运动可以用来以适合于CV健身的不同强度的步行模式来驱动他们的腿。AAPLE-Walk能够在负重时驱动同步步态运动，这为康复运动治疗开辟了可能性，类似于昂贵的步态训练器或外骨骼提供的治疗。我们的设备还可以在身体可能的情况下与主动腿部运动一起使用，以及左臂/右臂/腿输入的任意组合，从而使其有可能造福于各种行动不便的人(例如中风、神经疾病、衰老)。我们最近有一位完全脊髓损伤的人演示了独立使用功能齐全的AAPLE-Walk原型。我们相信，一种能够在廉价的套餐中提供CV锻炼、负重和步态训练的组合好处的设备具有巨大的市场潜力。但是，尽管我们的发明取得了重大进展，但还需要进行更多的工程研究，以进一步提高设备的可用性、性能和功能。在推进这项工作之前，需要对整个市场有更多的了解。通过市场评估获得的知识将用于确定市场规模，为进一步投资研发资源提供信心，并将我们的开发努力集中于特定市场需求和/或添加设备功能，以支持更广泛的用户群。我们还将确定潜在的公司合作伙伴，并制定一项推向市场的计划，该计划考虑到推出一款经过调整的健身器材产品的具体特点。